The difference is estimated at around 78 to 89 percent across trees, dead wood and soil. The findings highlight the role of old-growth forests in climate-related carbon storage, which is relevant for discussions on forest use, bioenergy and climate policy.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Lukasz Szmigiel;

The study is based on extensive fieldwork and national forest data collected over nearly a decade. Soil accounts for a large share of the additional carbon stored in old-growth forests. The total difference in carbon storage is significantly higher than previous estimates.